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March, 2010

  1. Becoming Provident Providers

    March 28, 2010 by Ben Tanner


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  2. 20 Men and a Truck

    March 21, 2010 by Ben Tanner


    Lately, there have been quite a few people moving in and out of our ward (“ward” is the term Latter-day saints use to describe their local congregations).   My current calling is 1st counselor in the Elder’s quorum presidency and part of my duties is to organize help for those who are moving in or out.

    Latter-day saints are big on service.  We have been taught to look for opportunities to serve others.  This isn’t limited to other members of the church but it extends to everyone around us.

    In the Book Mormon prophet/king Benjamin counseled:

    Mosiah 2:17

    17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.

    Yesterday we had another move and to help with and believe it or not it was actually quite fun.  We had over 20 men and moved a family out of one house and into another house in about two hours!  When you have that many people helping the work is light and you are able to build relationships and or course serve the lord.

    We do Latter-day Saints do this?

    Is it because we are trying to “work” our way into heaven?  NO.  King Benjamin also says in the Book of Mormon:

    Mosiah 2:21

    21 I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.

    We are very aware that all the service in the world alone will not get you into heaven.  Because we would still fall short.  It is the atonement of Jesus Christ that makes our service worth anything.  Because of His atonement, our service does the following for us:

    • It is part of keeping our covenant with the savior so it is counted as righteousness.
    • It helps in our effort to become sancified and changes us so we are more fit for His kingdom.
    • It is what He would do in the same situation so we are following His example.
    • We receive blessings from the Lord
    • It makes us happy and brings lasting joy.

    I testify that when we undertake to serve others, regardless of who they are, we are truly serving the Lord.
    We are being changed from the inside out.  The Lord will bless those who serve their fellow beings.

    Matt 25:35-40

    35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
    36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
    37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
    38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
    39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
    40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

    If you would like to learn more, Click here for Missionaries

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  3. “..he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.”

    March 14, 2010 by Ben Tanner


    We are reading the Old Testament as a family again. We recently read the story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife.

    The example of Joseph has great application in our day.

    What if all men, when confronted with the choice to engage in immorality of any kind, “fled, and got him out“?

    I remember my mother always telling me to “run like Joseph.” This simple advice is the answer to many of the problems families and individuals face today. We should take the simple advice of my mother and the incredible example of Joseph and shun any and all sexual intimacy outside of the bonds of marriage between a man and a woman, including pornography.

    Here are just a few of the problems that this would largely solve…

    1. Child birth out of wedlock
    2. Sexually transmitted disease
    3. Adultery
    4. Unrealistic expectations and misinformation about sex that comes from pornography
    5. Broken hearts
    6.
    7.
    8.

    The list could go on and on, but I would like to only name a few. Please feel free to keep the list going in the comments on this post.

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  4. The Tender Mercies of the Lord

    March 14, 2010 by Ben Tanner


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  5. The Family: A Proclamation to the World

    March 7, 2010 by Ben Tanner



    Back in 1995, the First Presidency and Quorum of the 12 apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were inspired of the Lord to make a special proclamation. This proclamation was designed to layout the importance of the Family in God’s plan for His children both in this life and the life to come.

    We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

    All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.


    In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshiped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

    The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

    We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

    Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

    The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

    We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

    We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.



    Volumes could be written on just the first paragraph. I remember when this first came out and I it seemed pretty simple to me. It’s amazing that just over 15 years later that you can see why this proclamation is so important.

    We cannot hope to gain God’s greatest blessings without following his plan for happiness. There are degrees of Joy, and to achieve the highest or fullest joy, it must be shared in the marriage of a Man and a Woman creating a true family with is intended to endure forever.

    iv>We are not just a part of a random natural process. We were put here for a purpose. We are God’s children. Literally. We were created to even look like Him. Our spirits actually originated from Heavenly parents. This means we have all inherited some of their traits and have divine natures. It’s true we have also inherited fallen natures through Adam, but because of Jesus Christ it is possible for us to overcome our fallen natures and claim the divine that is already inside of us. It is the fight between these two natures that is playing out inside each of us right now. But God has provided a trump card for our Divine natures.. that is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. If we will have faith in Him, repent of our sins, be baptized, and receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost we are found within the bounds of Christs Mercy and Grace. We just need to endure in this state and our divine natures will win out. Our gender was not determined alone by our physical bodies, but we enjoyed the blessings of our gender before this life and will enjoy it eternally.


    God did not put us in loving family relationships just for that to end when we die. We are able to be sealed together forever and enjoy the love and commonality that comes from a strong family forever. The family is our greatest training ground. We learn, develop, grow, and become more refined as we rub shoulders with our family members. The purpose of coming to this earth was to progress. We needed experiential knowledge not just academic knowledge. Our goal is to live the life that God lives. To be one with Him. That is called eternal life. The Lord has provided a way through the Temple that everyone who has ever lived on the earth can have an equal chance to learn the Gospel plan and accept it.

    The main purpose of our sexual appetites is drive us to have children. We are to raise children in a condition of love and happiness. Each child is entitled to the unique set of qualities that a mother and father bring to the table.

    Can you imagine what would happen if everyone was strict to observe the counsel to keep the pro-creative powers within the bounds of marriage between a man and a woman? How much disease would simply vanish? How many children would be spared the heart ache of being reared in a broken home? How much psychological damage would be adverted in the individual lives of those who have been abused sexually? How much health care cost would go away? How much more happy and stable would our society be?

    The truth is that we would all be better off. If this simple proclamation was adopted, many of our problems would simply go away. The great blessing is that you can claim the blessings of this proclamation if you will commit to live by it. You can start claiming those blessings today.

    Don’t forget the important warning at the end the proclamation. If our society does not adhere to these basic principles, the calamities foretold in the scriptures will be the result.

    I testify that you can have the blessings outlined in this proclamation. I testify that the principles taught therein are true. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

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